The esteemed French philosopher Pierre Hadot's final work, now available in English.With a foreword by Arnold I. Davidson and Daniele Lorenzini.In his final book, renowned philosopher Pierre Hadot explores Goethe's relationship with ancient spiritual exercises-transformative acts of intellect, imagination, or will. Goethe sought both an intense experience of the present moment as well as a kind of cosmic consciousness, both of which are rooted in ancient philosophical practices. These practices shaped Goethe's audacious contrast to the traditional maxim memento mori (Don't forget that you will die) with the aim of transforming our ordinary consciousness. Ultimately, Hadot reveals how Goethe cultivated a deep love for life that brings to the forefront a new maxim: Don't forget to live.

Autorentext

Pierre Hadot (1922-2010) was professor of the history of Hellenistic and Roman thought at the Collège de France. He was the author of many books, including Plotinus, or The Simplicity of Vision. Michael Chase is a senior researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Centre Jean Pépin and adjunct professor of Greek and Roman studies at the University of Victoria. Arnold I. Davidson is Distinguished Professor of Humanities at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as well as the Robert O. Anderson Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago. Daniele Lorenzini is associate professor of philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania.

Klappentext

"In Don't Forget to Live, the final book penned before his death in 2010, renowned French philosopher Pierre Hadot focuses our attention on Goethe and the long tradition of spiritual exercises. As Hadot explains, the term "spiritual exercise" has nothing to do with religion as we might assume. Instead, spiritual exercises are acts of the intellect, imagination, or will that are characterized by their purpose. Thanks to these exercises, a person strives to transform how they see the world, the self, and the relationship between the two. The exercises do not work to inform, but to form. Hadot begins his remarkable study of Goethe with the spiritual exercise of concentrating on the present moment. This exercise was dear to Goethe and allows us to experience each moment intensely without being distracted by the weight of the past or the mirage of the future. Hadot then explores another exercise, the view from above, in which we actively take a distance from things so as to help us see them in perspective. He then turns our attention to Goethe's poem "Urworte" in which the focus is on hope, a figure who represents a fundamental attitude we should cultivate. Through Hadot's masterful treatment of these three exercises we clearly grasp Goethe's deep love for life despite its pains and fears, and this deep love serves as a powerful reminder for us to live as well"--